Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
AEA Members,
As we begin AEA’s 40th year, I’m writing with gratitude and resolve. This milestone comes at a time when many of us are working under real constraints while still holding the line on rigor, integrity, and usefulness. My commitment as your President is simple: to lead with steadiness, to support members with practical action and strong community, and to strengthen AEA so we are even more resilient in the years ahead.
In every season, AEA will be a steady place to learn, connect, and move forward—together.
Celebrating 40 Years of Evaluation: A Legacy of Learning and Improvement AEA was formed in 1986, and over the four decades since, evaluators have helped organizations, communities, and governments answer essential questions: What needs to be done? How should it be done? Is it being done well? Did it succeed—so we know what to improve next?
Across these 40 years, evaluation has become more rigorous, more inclusive, more methodologically diverse, and more globally connected. Our association brings together evaluators across the United States and around the world—united by a shared professional ethic: we don’t settle for assumption when learning is possible.
This anniversary is not only a celebration of where we have been. It is a reminder of what we are capable of building next.
Why Evaluation Always Matters in a Society Every healthy system depends on feedback: families, schools, hospitals, nonprofits, businesses, and governments improve when they can learn from evidence. Evaluation is one of society’s most practical forms of wisdom because it turns experience into insight, and insight into improvement.
When resources are constrained, problems are complex, and the information environment is crowded, the demand for credible learning grows. Evaluation helps keep institutions accountable, programs effective, and decisions grounded.
Truth matters. Right matters. Decency matters. Evaluation matters because it strengthens the conditions under which truth can be examined, right can be pursued, and decency can be practiced—through systematic inquiry, integrity, and respect for people.
A Steadfast Commitment to Our Members I know that many of us are navigating real hardship—tight resources, shifting priorities, constrained capacity, and professional uncertainty.
But I want to say this plainly: our hope cannot be extinguished. Not because we ignore challenges, but because we respond in the way evaluators do best: with steadiness, skill, collaboration, and resolve.
As your President, my commitment is to support members with connection, professional community, and practical pathways to engage; to strengthen AEA’s financial health so we can protect and expand member value; and to build a stronger, more resilient future for evaluation—across boundaries.
Gratitude for Our Community: Members, Board, and Operations Before I outline our next steps, I want to recognize the people who make AEA strong.
To our members: thank you for your resilience, your professionalism, and your daily work to improve programs, policies, and communities—often under demanding conditions—and for the many ways you strengthen AEA through your generous volunteer service and leadership.
To the Board of Directors: thank you for thoughtful governance, careful stewardship, and a shared commitment to move AEA forward with unity and purpose.
To our Executive Director and operations team: thank you for the excellence behind the scenes. Your professionalism is the infrastructure of AEA’s success, and your work enables the member experience we all value.
Together, we are unified in moving AEA forward—stronger, steadier, and future-ready.
Strengthening AEA’s Financial Vitality Strong associations do not wait for stability to return—they build it. AEA’s financial health is a serious responsibility, and we are addressing it with focused leadership and concrete action.
To strengthen AEA’s long-term vitality and capacity to serve members, the AEA Board and I established the Financial Vitality Task Force to help us align resources with member value and mission priorities, identify sustainable revenue opportunities, improve long-term planning and resilience, and ensure AEA remains future-ready—not only for this year, but for decades.
This is stewardship: strengthening AEA’s capacity to serve members—now and tomorrow.
Responding to Emerging Needs and Supporting Members In addition, we have advanced several groups to ensure AEA is responsive, well-governed, and member-centered:
We are also advancing work on AEA’s foundational documents and key policies and procedures to strengthen governance and consistency in member service—so they remain clear, current, and supportive of AEA’s mission.
You will hear more as this work progresses. For now, I want you to know this: we are acting—deliberately, constructively, and with confidence in AEA’s future.
Strengthening TIG Connections and Board–Member Communication AEA’s strength lives in our communities of practice, including our 54 TIGs. This year we are strengthening connections across TIGs and two-way communication between TIG leadership and the AEA Board, so member expertise informs association direction and members have clearer, more consistent pathways to engage.
TIGs are a vital part of AEA’s professional home—where evaluators connect, share practical solutions, and learn from one another.
Evaluation 2026: AEA’s 40th Anniversary Celebration (Save the Date: November 16–20) Across boundaries, learning travels farther—and impact reaches wider and lasts longer.
Please save the date for Evaluation 2026—AEA’s 40th Anniversary celebration—November 16–20, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our theme, Evaluation Across Boundaries, calls us to connect ideas, people, sectors, and perspectives across disciplines, cultures, methods, organizations, and geographic borders. Registration opens this summer.
The Call for Proposals launches in March. I encourage you to submit clear, practical proposals that share usable tools and lessons, reflect thoughtful rigor, and create engaging opportunities for learning and connection across career stages.
A Call to Action In the months ahead, I invite you to do three simple things:
Across boundaries, we carry our standards—because truth travels.
With resolve and gratitude, Guili Zhang President, American Evaluation Association
Carlos Irizarry Zachariah Falconer-Stout Mary Janevic Stephanie Goodwin Lana Smith Mac Cannady Kyle McGrath Katrina Smith-Garvin Laura Maki Heather Codd Tarnjeet Kang Takatso Sibanda Diana Elrod Maria Solana Ledesma Laura Snyder Brown Grace Osafo Kelli Craig Alyssa Saunders Lisa Natkin Julie Krupa Christina Park Danielle Cravero Annie Barton Mercy Blematessa Eric Banilower Patrick Smith Meryl Herr AnnJanette Rosga Max Fey Delin Kufandada Maina Maina Katie Boone Jose F. Burgos Chrissy Bisceglia Komal Brown Sam Naab Jess Krim Somer Levine Loy Azalia Scot Seitz Tseveengerel Amgalan Ashley Ward Melissa Tibbits
Claudia Delbasso Michelle Hartman Tykedra Driskell Zahra Sahahin Tabia Henry Akintobi Emma Bicego Rhyan Hewlin Elsa Ampaw Kourtnii Farley Anaise Quirindongo Heather Rice Ronny Mohelsky Keyondra Brooks Kate Breukink Ashton Johnson Chris Stewart Lidia Vasquez Darrel Skousen Callie Dean Nichole McCoy Ruth Kaggwa Jiana Li Lori Herz Amy Meiser Liz Mason Nicole Young Karen Livingston Lenora Kukome J. Cain Allayna DeHond Stephanie Bultema Richard Everett Meryl Motika Martena Reed Sanskriti Thapa Sharon Rallis Hannah Rethamel Benita Komunjeru Catherine Apostoleris Karen Morris Colleen Kassouf Mackey Michaela Rawsthorn Blaire Hamelehle
Mona Ibrahim Jessica Elrod Carolina Boufflet Alissa Marchant Tom Withee Omodolapo Ojo Andrea Nelson Trice Amy Soper Heidi Masching Breanne Burton Avelyn Hetzel Russell Cannon Kristen Salazar Keylan West Antoinette Wigen Shelly Menendez Martha Velez Letícia Cirne Kathy James Neesha Roberts Bailee Ehlers Ashley Boat Kimberly Stezala Martha Brown Amanda Wortman Louise Rasmussen Sarah Wall Eunbea Kim Alison Miranda Christopher Laurent April Andry Rah'man Tricia Kidd Biblia Cha Heather Creek Krystal Baba Destaw Nega Atieno Adongo Dawn Earnesty Susan Vogel Hannah McMillan Samuel Sanders Elizabeth Peck Heather A Becker Christine Beach Sudheer Kumar Gandu Serena Wright Kristin Vamenta Shira Rosenblatt Christina Tuell Ashmini Kerodal Andrea Sutter Aileen Reid Mary Carney Emily Gray Matthew Gever Rosio Pedroso
Esther Nolton Nikki Cardon Aaron Adusei Arturo Villegas Limas Courtney Long Hanh Yu Paula Ogston-Nobile Benjamin Allen Sharon Alexander Kiely Barnard-Webster Sally Bond Randi Sims Krista Watkins Rhonda Williams Paula De Santiago Larissa Tolusso Erin Davis Noah Goodman Tara Gonzales Hacker Charlton Coles Debbie Sheen Wendy Kaiser Mallory Antel Rebecca Reumann-Moore Amber Romo Sarah Connelly Natalie Dickson Shameka Wells Asta Musa Lisa White Madeline Moerk Nicola Forbes Eva Bazant Alyissa Johnston Kiana VanSchoiack Michael FitzGerald Spencer Queen Alyssa Hokky Lana Rucks Allen Toombs Ryan Mays Margaret Jaeger Jennifer Billman Alyce Hopes Christopher Cox Amanda Rozsavolgyi Kaylene Page Aaron Albrecht Robbin Reed Eric Riedel Leslie Schnyder Meera Rayar Lila Karki Jackie Belcher Kelly Gibson Eunice Oduro Madeleine Keehner Diana Kun Margaret Spearman Erin LePoire Fran Mast Annelise Green Maria Dominguez
Lynn Liu Jessica Whittington Carla Howe Ruffo Teresa Thompson-Pinckney Jerri-ann Danso Edward Gillespie Danielle Caban Ashfaq Ahmad Dana Ewing Leota Parandeh Angelique Phillips Chris Woodruff Brittany Strupp Shelli Golson-Mickens Abby Henderson Erin Janulis Shanelle Haile Jenny Frenzel Adedapo Adeyanju PhD Gabriela Ortiz Humayoon Iqbal Marissa Schuh Gebert Ariana Roman Fatoumata Sangare Allison Teeter Lori Herz Blair Hewes Brittany Dernberger Monica Bruckner Maria Bartini Madeleine Smith Sam Ridgway Chelsea Samuel Noor Jassim Abbey Eversole Amy Wagner Wing Lam Megan Noelle Cantor Reagan Pearce Darcey Altschwager Sohail Sukhera Christina Galardi Kelsi Melnick Manal Alenezi Nicole Smith Kelly Organ Tia Palermo Lisa Weber Byron Martin Tatianna Pugmire Liliana Rodriguez Neyat Daniel Logan Drake Yao Yang Kendall LaVine Kelly Borges Patricia Noonan Ana del Rocío Katherine Aronson-Ensign Trish DugDug Martha Perla
Diondre Brown Muneyuki Kato Melinda Moore Shantee El Karen DeVivo Rodney Wambeam Linda Emanor Andria Blackwood Laran Despain Jill Adelson Ahad Zwooqar Karen DeMeester Elizabeth Bocz So Jung Lee Elle Kemp Veronica Lopez-Delgado Matthew Wagner Gretchen King Jamil Sewell Lori Ogden Darrell Robinson Humphrey Costello Tashina Lemons Erik Thompson Rebecca Perdomo Eric L Canen Brian Simmons Theresa Wright Michelle Bailey Megan Bramlett Thao McVay Amairini Sanchez Kevin Heanue Liam Fama Pavan Kumar Papasani Matt Hardy Seth Ayim Angela Kemper Erin Casey Judith Green Gavin Crowell Williamson Megan Luther Margaret Mooney Grace Carey Stacey Hoffman Jacob Kawonga Melissa Milton-Pung Lisa Pytlik Zillig Elizabeth Gleason Richard Murphy Mario Scalora Quinn Lewandowski Emily Mollenkof Leah Lessard Ashley Miller Kurt Mantonya Maureen Bailey Emily Kieliszewski Denise Bulling Kaitlyn Bloink
Michael Coop Jennifer Pooler Sabrina Townsend Jennifer Herbert Kelly Grace Nancy Grudens-Schuck Lauren McClain Lisa Wolff Kim Walter
Lisa Lauxman J Hyde Emma Waugh Donna Charlevoix Beth Osborne Daponte Jessica Doanes Jacob Kelley Emma Alston Jenna Sethi
Lezlee Matthews Nicole Schlater Lynn Foucrier Adrienne Duke Marks Anisha Lewis R. Sam Larson Kristi Wagner Natasha Wanchek Elif Timur
Kelley Adcock Maureen Pettitt Angela Mooss Adeyemo Adetogun Phyllis Richards Jennifer Mineo Chiharu Kato Sara Roberts Robyn Thomas Pitts Susana Morales Sonia Burton Rebecca Deutscher Jacqueline Ng-Osorio Anthony Gambino Jennifer Pohlhaus Dennis Marotta Marjorie Allan Michael Odell Eric Nehl Kamakanaokealoha Aquino Sally Laskey Anna Gersh
Linda Morra-Imas (1986) Lois Yellowthunder (1990) Mary Piontek (1991) Arnold L Greenfield (1992) Hazel Symonette (1993) William Moore (1994) Cheri Levenson (1994) Tristi Nichols (1994) Larry K Bremner (1996) Theresa Bruckerhoff (2001) David Campbell (2001) Alphonse Bigirimana (2001) Jerome Winston (2001) Ralph Renger (2001) Elizabeth Brown (2001) Michelle Granner (2006) Clare Nolan (2006) Dawn Coleman (2006) Tahira Hoke (2006) CherylAnne Poth (2006) Keri-Nicole Dillman (2006) Denise Buote (2006) Jock Baker (2006) Christy Metzler (2006) Norma Martinez-Rubin, M.P.H., M.B.A. (2006) Valerie L Williams (2006) Lakesha Stevenson (2006) Apollo Nkwake (2011) Jessica Sickler (2011) Tiffany Tovey (2011) Nada Rayyes (2011) Becca Carsel (2011)
Join Zach Tilton (MERL Tech Initiative) and Zachary Grays with AEA staff for an informational webinar for this year's hackathon. During this webinar, Zach and Zachary will expand on the hackathon concept and share how to access the tools needed to participate.
RSVP Now
Recognize excellence in evaluation by submitting a nomination for the 2026 AEA Awards. Nomination letters of interest are now open through Friday, April 10. Take this opportunity to honor a colleague whose work is making a lasting impact on the field.
Submission Instructions
Navigating today’s policy landscape requires more than expertise; it requires a voice. Join AEA’s next Town Hall to learn how evaluators can effectively engage with government, communicate the value of evaluation, and advocate for the field.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Ricardo Millett Award, honoring outstanding contributions to advancing racial equity through evaluation. Recognizing innovative, community-centered work, the award includes a $5,000 cash prize and recognition at the AEA Annual Conference. Apply by Friday, April 24, at 11:59 pm ET.
Apply Now
Help shape AEA’s voice for the future. Submit your idea for the AEA Tagline Contest—a short, powerful phrase that captures the impact, values, and purpose of evaluation. The winning submission will be featured across AEA and receive complimentary registration to Evaluation 2026.
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Featuring 11 engaging virtual professional development workshops, our new virtual series delivers timely insights and development for evaluators looking to develop their skills this spring. View upcoming sessions below:
April 1-2 | 12:00 pm - 3 pm ET | Transformative Mixed Methods Evaluation: Commitment to Equity, Community Engagement, and Shared Leadership
April 8 | 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET | Centering Community Voices Through Engaging Methods: A Hands-On, How-To Workshop
April 10 & 17 | 11:00 am - 2:00 pm ET | Thinking With Your Hands: Using LEGO® to Build Logic Models
Save the dates and get ready to join us this fall for Evaluation 2026, happening November 16-20. Registration will open in July, but we encourage you to begin making your travel plans early, as airfare prices are predicted to rise between now and the event.
Learn More
AEA has officially launched the Call for Proposals for Evaluation 2026! Submissions will be due on Friday, May 1. Check out the preview of what to expect for important updates on how the conference will be organized, so you can begin planning your proposal.
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